Combined drink bar and room divider console

ABSTRACT

A MULTI-PURPOSE FUNITURE STRUCTURE WITH AN UPRIGHT FRAME ROTATABLY MOUNTED TO A STATIONARY PEDESTAL. THE FRAME HAS A PLURALITY OF CASTORS WHICH PARTIALLY SUPPORT THE FRAME AND AID IN ITS ROTATION RELATIVE TO THE STATIONARY PEDESTAL. A COUNTERTOP IS AFFIXED TO THE TOP OF THE FRAME, AND A LONGITUDINAL SIDE OF THE FRAME HAS A PLURALITY OF OPEN SHELVES TO CREATE A DECORATIVE ROOM DIVIDER CONSOLE. THE REMAINING LONGITUDINAL SIDE OF THE FRAME IS CLOSED TO FORM A DRINK BAR. THE PEDESTAL AND FRAME ARE PROVIDED WITH COOPERATING PIN AND SOCKETS TO RETAIN THE FRAME IN PREDETERMINED POSITIONS.

1'. D. CLARK 3,672,741

COMBINED DRINK BAR AND ROOM DIVIDER CONSOLE June 37, 1972 Filed NOV. 3, 1970 United States Patent COMBINED DRINK BAR AND ROOM DIVIDER CONSOLE Terry D. Clark, 1537 E. 32nd St., Minneapolis, Minn. 55403 Filed Nov. 3, 1970, Ser. No. 86,480 Int. Cl. A47b 77/08, 95/18, 49/ 00 US. Cl. 312-223 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, or practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms of phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Occupants of many modern homes or apartments entertain guests with a sufficient frequency to have a small drink bar in their entertaining area. Although acceptance of the home bar has grown steadily in recent years, many hosts are reluctant to sacrifice the necessary floor space required for such a specialized structure, particularly in the relatively small rooms of many modern houses or apartments. Faced with the relatively infrequent use of the bar compared with other more traditional furniture such as stereo or television consoles, bookcases, room dividers and the like, space requirements have often forced the occupant to select the more traditional alternatives. Apartment dwellers seldom have enough floor space to accommodate a bar.

The invention disclosed herein meets the problems described by providing a drink bar structure which also serves as a room divider, television cabinet, stereo console, and bookcase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a combined drink bar and room divider console having an upright frame connected by a rotatable mounting to a stationary pedestal which partially supports the frame. A longitudinal side of the frame is open to reveal the frame interior which is provided with a plurality of shelves and cabinets in which television and stereo equipment, books, and bar accessories can be housed. The remaining sides of the frame are closed, typically with decorative panels, to form the drink bar. A plurality of floor contacting castors are attached to a bottom panel of the frame to further support the frame; the pedestal, rotatable mounting, and castors cooperate to permit the frame to be rotated relative to the pedestal so the room divider console side can be oriented in a preferred direction.

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The structure may be positioned at a right angle to the length of a room with the console side facing toward the entertaining area. Those seated in the entertaining area can see and enjoy the decorative console side of the structure with its television, stereo, books, and accessories. When the occupant is not entertaining guests, the invention serves as a useful and attractive room divider, replacing the conventional radio, television and stereo console and providing bookcase space.

When the drink bar is to be used, the frame is rotated relative to the stationary pedestal, permitting the bar side of the structure to face the entertaining area. The host is thus provided with a bar when needed without sacrificing the extra space it usually requires since the structure replaces several conventional furniture pieces usually found in the entertaining area.

The invention is particularly well adapted to the home or apartment having adjoining living and dining rooms separated by an arch. The invention can be positioned in the archway to separate living and dining rooms and rotated to expose the desired side to the living room. The counter-top also serves as a handy snackbar, writing surface, and work area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combined bar and room divider console invention showing the console side in detail.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the invention showing its construction.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention showing the frame partially rotated and displaying the bar side in detail.

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows the combined drink bar and room divider console invention 10 as it might appear when in use.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the invention 10 has a stationary pedestal 12 provided with cleats 14, 16, 18, and 20 at the corners of its lower side. The cleats engage rug or floor and prevent the pedestal from slipping or rotating when in use. If desired the cleats may be rubberized or provided with other friction generating materials to discourage movement.

An upright frame 22 has vertical corner posts 24, 26, 28 and 30. Horizontal upper stringers 32, 34, 36, and 38 interconnect the upper ends of the posts, and horizontal lower stringers 40, 42, 44, and 46 interconnect their lower ends. The frame also includes bottom panel 48 attached to horizontal stringers 40, 42, 44, and 46. The posts and stringers may be formed of wood, 2" by 2" posts being satisfactory. Plywood sheeting can be used for panel 48.

Alternatively the frame 22 may be constructed wholly of plywood panels, the shown posts and stringers being replaced by such panels. A longitudinal plywood panel can be substituted for posts 30 and 28 and stringers 36 and 44, the panel being joined to and extending perpendicularly from bottom panel 48 to define longitudinal side 96. A pair of end panels joined to and extending perpendicularly from the said longitudinal plywood panel and from the bottom panel 48 at opposite ends 54 and 56 of the frame can be substituted for the posts and stringers now shown at the ends. The longitudinal panel and the pair of end panels can replace all the shown posts and stringers and in combination with bottom panel 48 serve to define an alternative frame which is within the purview of the invention. Decorative paneling may be affixed to the outer surfaces of this panel frame and the countertop 62 supported upon the end panels and the longitudinal panel extending therebetween.

A pair of vertical dividers 50 and 52, spaced from one another, and from the ends 54 and 56 of the frame, support horizontal shelf 58 and vertical reinforcement 60. The dividers 50 and 52, shelf 58, and reinforcement 60 provide support for stringers 32 and 36 of the frame 22, the reinforcement 60 joining the stringers at their center. If no stringers are used, the reinforcement 60 extends to and supports a countertop 62, which is attached to the upper portion of the frame in any known manner. The countertop has a glass rack 64 and arm rest 66 and is provided with a pair of hinged dropleaves 68 and 70. Although the dropleaves are not essential to the effective operation of the invention they make it possible to store the bar-console in less space than would otherwise be possible.

A rotatable mounting 72 connects pedestal 12 and bottom panel 48 of frame 22 to make the frame rotatable relative to the stationary pedestal. The frame is provided with a releaseable locking pin 74 which cooperates with sockets 76 and 78 in the pedestal 12 to lock the frame 22 in predetermined positions on the pedestal. The sockets 76 and 78 are arranged so that pin 74 drops into socket 76 when pedestal edge 80 is parallel to stringer 40 and both edge 80 and stringer 40 are oriented in the same direction, as shown in FIG. 2. Socket 78 receives pin 74 when scuff plate 100 ,(FIG. 3) is parallel to pedestal edge 80 and both plate 100 and edge 80 are oriented in the same direction.

The bottom panel 48 of the frame is supported by rolling castors 82, 84, 86, and 88 which partially support the frame 22 and aid in its rotation. The castors are particularly helpful in supporting the frame 22 when guests lean upon the countertop 62, greatly reducing strain on rotatable mounting 72 and prolonging its operating lifetime. The bottom panel 48 is centered on the pedestal 12, the mounting 72 connecting the center of panel 48 to that of pedestal 12. The pedestal is shorter in length than frame 22 so the castors have sufiicient clearance to move freely around the pedestal 12 without contact therewith when the frame is rotated. The pedestal is completely storable beneath the frame 22 and when the frame is aligned with the pedestal, no part of the pedestal extends beyond the sides of the frame.

A longitudinal side 90 (FIG. 1) of the frame is open in whole or part, revealing the frame interior which is provided with a plurality of shelves for television set 92, stereo speakers 93 and 94, tape deck 95, and other decorative accessories. The remaining longitudinal side 96 of the frame is closed, providing a decorative surface which may be seasonally decorated as shown at 98 (FIG. 3). Ends 54 and 56 are also closed. A metal scuff plate 100 extends along the side 96 to reduce scratching and marring dut to foot contact. Paneling, planking, or the like may be used to close the side 96 and ends 54 and 56.

An electric receptacle 102 at shelf 103 supplies electrical power for the television and stereo equipment. An electrical wire 104 extends from the receptable 102 through aperture 105 in bottom panel 48, which communicates with a central passage 106 through the rotatable mounting 72. The Wire leaves the pedestal at 107 and terminates in an electrical plug 108.

If desired cabinet doors 109 and 110 may be hinged to the frame 22 to provide closed storage areas for liquor or bar accessories. A drawer 111 provides additional closed storage.

In operation, the bar-console invention 10 is positioned in an entertaining area with the countertop 62 and pedestal 12 at right angles to a wall and parallel to each other, the end of the pedestal with the wire 104 extending therefrom being nearest the wall, the plug being inserted in a power outlet. The dropleaves 68 and 70 may or may not be extended depending on the preference of the operator. The end of the counter nearest the wall should be spaced 6-8" therefrom to allow clearance for rotation.

FIG. 1 shows the console side 90 facing outward. When the bar side 96 is unneeded the console side of the invention should face the entertaining area, the television, stereo and decorative accessories thereby being visible and useable to occupants of the entertaining area. The bar console 10 may be positioned in a wide doorway or archway like that typically dividing many living and dining rooms, a dropleaf 68 or 70 being raised and lowered as needed for occupants to move freely between the two rooms. The countertop 62 provides a convenient snack-bar, writing surface, or work area.

When guests are to be entertained and the bar is needed, the operator opens cabinet and raises locking pin 74 from engagement with socket 76 in the pedestal 12. He then rotates the frame 22 approximately so the bar side 96 faces the entertaining area. Light pressure on either end of the frame 22 causes the frame to rotate smoothly about the rotatable mounting 72, the pedestal 12 remaining stationary due to its floor or rug engaging cleats. The castors partially support the frame and permit it to roll easily while it is rotated 180 degrees as shown in FIG. 3. The cabinet door 110 is reopened and locking pin 74 lowered into socket 78 to lock the rotating frame in place thereby preventing its accidental rotation by a guest leaning thereagainst.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it should be understood that various changes, adaptations and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined drink bar and decorative room divider console for use in an entranceway between two adjacent rooms comprising:

an upright frame including a bottom panel;

a stationary pedestal positioned below the said upright frame, the pedestal having cleats on the lower side thereof arranged for contact with a floor to prevent movement of the pedestal relative to the floor when weight of the said frame is exerted on the pedestal;

a rotatable mounting interconnecting the said stationary pedestal and the bottom panel of said frame, the mounting and pedestal substantially centered on the said bottom panel to partially support the said frame and permitting the frame -to be rotated relative to the stationary pedestal within the confines of the entranceway when the pedestal is centered in the entranceway;

a plurality of castors attached to the frame, for rolling on the floor, and partially supporting the frame;

a counter top on the frame;

the frame having a longitudinal side revealing the frame interior, the frame interior being provided with a plurality of shelves to form a decorative room divider console;

the frame having the remaining sides closed to form a drink bar having a side which can be seasonably decorated;

the pedestal, the rotatable mount, and the castors cooperating to permit the frame to be rotated relative to the stationary pedestal so that the bar side and the console side can be interchanged to meet an operators entertaining requirements;

a releasable locking pin mounted within the frame and passing through the bottom panel of the frame; and

a pair of sockets in the pedestal, one socket arranged to receive the locking pin when the bar side faces a given direction and other arranged to receive the pin when the console faces the given direction to prevent the frame rotating when leaned upon by a user when the combined bar-console is in use, wherein the rotatable mounting has an open central passage therethrough:

the bottom panel of the frame and the pedestal have the aperture in the frame bottom, through the mount- 5 ing central passage, and through the aperture of the pedestal and terminating at an electrical plug permit ting electrical appliances within the frame to be supplied electrical power.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 150,194 7/1948 Barrett 312-1404 2,260,586 10/1941 Sheldon 312-1402 6 461,756 10/1891 Hubbard 312-252 X 1,481,640 1/1924 Huppert 312-251 3,148,923 9/1964 Smith 312-223 X FOREIGN PATENTS 920,586 4/ 1947 France 312-1402 PAUL R. GILLIAM, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 3 12-1402, 252 

